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Self-Realization in the Tradition
of the Himalayan Masters
by Swami Jnaneshvara Bharati 
SwamiJ.com

Goal of Practices

The goal of our sadhana or practices is the highest Joy that comes from the Realization in direct experience of the center of consciousness, the Self, the Atman or Purusha, which is one and the same with the Absolute Reality.

Three Streams of Practice

This Self-Realization comes through the three streams of Yoga meditation of the Yoga Sutras, the contemplative insight of Advaita Vedanta, and the intense devotion of Samaya Sri Vidya Tantra, the three of which complement one another like fingers on a hand. (Yoga, Vedanta, Tantra)

We employ the classical approaches of Raja, Jnana, Karma, and Bhakti Yoga, as well as Hatha, Kriya, Kundalini, Laya, Mantra, Nada, Siddha, and Tantra Yoga. Meditation, contemplation, mantra and prayer finally converge into a unified force directed towards the final stage, piercing the pearl of wisdom called bindu, leading to the Absolute. (Bindu, Tradition, Convergence)

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Money, Sex,Fame, Health, Self and Yoga

Everybody wants happiness. However, we usually seek it in ways that are dependent on external stimulus, as if an outer cause leads to an inner effect of happiness. Surely this process of stimulus-response works to some degree; we have all experienced this in different ways, where getting what we want seems to make us feel good, and not getting what we want seems to make us feel bad. However, what if we knew how to be happy without any stimulus whatsoever? What if you could just rest in the deepest feeling of joy, regardless of the external circumstances? (more...)

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Revealing the Self beyond the Mind

Now, at this auspicious time, and after having done prior preparation, we seek the self-existent wholeness called Yoga. That wholeness is realized through the mastery and integration of the activities of the many levels of the mind-field. From that the seer, the true Self is revealed and stands alone in its authentic, eternal nature.

At other times, when that mastery and integration of mind is not present, the seer or Self appears to take on the forms of the countless thought patterns in the mind-field. Those interfering thought patterns are one of five kinds (correct, incorrect, fantasy, sleep, or memory), and are either colored or not-colored (colored with five colorings: clouding over of truth, I-am-ness, attachment, aversion, and/or fear).

First five of the Yoga Sutras:
Atha yoga anushasanam
Yogash chitta vritti nirodhah
Tada drashtuh svarupe avasthanam
Vritti sarupyam itaratra
Vrittayah pancatayah klishta aklishta
(Yoga Sutras)

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Approaches to Meditation

The approach of meditation of the Himalayan Masters is neither exclusively cultivating one-pointedness of mind, nor exclusively promoting insight or mindfulness. Rather, these are emphasized as companion practices. Meditations on attitudes of friendliness or lovingness, compassion or mercy, gladness or goodwill, and acceptance or neutrality are most important, but are seen as preliminary practices to stabilize the mind in preparation for the subtler meditations. (Yoga Sutras 1.33-1.39)

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The Four-Part Self

The whole universe is the four-part syllable Om (Aum; A-U-M-Silence). Everything that was, is, or will be is, in truth Om. That which transcends time, space, and causation is also Om. All of this, everywhere, is in truth Brahman, the Absolute Reality. This individual Self, Atman, is of the same essence as the Absolute Reality, Brahman. This Atman or Self has four aspects through which it operates. (Om Mantra, Mandukya Upanishad)

The first (A) aspect of Atman is the Self operating in the Waking state, the Gross world, Vaishvanara, in which consciousness is turned outward so as to experience the objects of the external world.

The second (U) is the Self operating in the Dreaming state, the Subtle realm, Taijasa, in which consciousness is turned inward so as to experience the objects of the inner realm.

The third (M) is the Self operating in the Deep Sleep state, the Causal plane, Prajna, in which any desire for Gross or Subtle objects has receded or merged into the ground out of which they arose. Here, one is filled with the experience of bliss, and can also find the way to clearer knowledge of the two preceding states.
The fourth (Silence) aspect of Atman or Self is Turiya, literally the fourth. In this fourth state, consciousness is neither turned outward nor inward. Nor is it both outward and inward; it is beyond both cognition and the absence of cognition.

This fourth state of Turiya cannot be experienced through the senses or known by comparison, deductive reasoning or inference; it is indescribable, incomprehensible, and unthinkable with the mind. This is Pure Consciousness itself. This is the real Self. It is within the cessation of all phenomena. It is serene, tranquil, filled with bliss, and is one without second. This is the real or true Self that is to be realized.

There is something between you and the Absolute Reality, and that is the mind. It is explored and witnessed as Manas (the mind as importer and exporter), Chitta (the storehouse of memory or karma), Ahamkara (the I-maker), and Buddhi (intelligence), along with the ten instruments of cognition and action, the Indriyas. (Four Functions of Mind, Indriyas)

Those four functions of mind and ten instruments are explored at the Gross and Subtle levels where they operate, and then allowed to merge back into the Causal plane, where the formless is encountered, experienced, and also transcended so as to reveal the Self, the state of Turiya.

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Purna:
The Full, Infinite, Whole, Complete

Om
Purnamadah Purnamidam
Purnat Purnamudachyate
Purnasya Purnamadaya
Purnameva Vashishyate
Om shanti, shanti, shanti

Om.
That is infinite, this is infinite;
From That infinite this infinite comes.
From That infinite, this infinite removed or added;
Infinite remains infinite.
Om. Peace! Peace! Peace!

or click here for an endless loop

(Purna)

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The Self and the Absolute

1. The absolute is real; the objects of the world are only relatively real. (Brahma satyam jagan mithya)

2. There is one absolute reality, without any division.
(Ekam evadvitiyam brahma)

3. To know that absolute reality in direct experience is the supreme knowledge. (Prajnanam Brahman)

4. That absolute reality is the essence of who you really are.
(Tat tvam asi)

5. The individual Self is one and the same with the absolute, like the wave and the ocean. (Ayam atma brahma)

6. Who I really am, at the core of my being, is that absolute reality, the ocean. (Aham brahmasmi)

7. All of this, including me, is that absolute reality; the wave and the ocean are one. (Sarvam khalvidam brahma)

(Mahavakyas)

or click here for an endless loop

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Affirming Three Aspirations

Lead me from the unreal to the Real
Lead me from the darkness to the Light
Lead me from the temporary to the Eternal

Asatoma Sat Gamaya
Tamasoma Jyotir Gamaya
Mrityorma Anritam Gamaya

or click here for an endless loop

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The Light that Removes Obstacles

On the absolute reality and its planes,
On that finest, choice worthy spiritual light,
We meditate, as a remover of obstacles
That it may inspire and enlighten us.

Aum Bhur Bhuva Svah
Tat Savitur Varenyam
Bhargo Devasya Dhimahi
Dhiyo Yo Naha Prachodayat

(Gayatri Mantra)

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Freedom through the One in Three Cities

We Meditate on the Three-eyed reality
Which permeates and nourishes all like a fragrance.
May we be liberated from death
for the sake of immortality,
As a cucumber is severed from bondage to a creeping vine.

Om Tryambakam Yajamahe
Sugandhim Pushtivardhanam
Urvarukamiva Bandhanan
Mrityor Mukshiya Maamritat

(Mahamrityunjaya Mantra)

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Meditation on Tripura

Om, we meditate on that great, beautiful one
who lives in the three cities.
(gross, subtle and causal; waking, dreaming, and
sleeping; conscious, unconscious, and subconscious)

Om, Maha Tripura Sundari Dimahi

(or click here for an endless loop)

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The Secret of Shiva and Shakti*

Shiva and Shakti are one and the same.
There is no place that He is not.
There is no place that She is not.
They are one and the same.

She is in every thing.
She is in every word.
She is all there is.

See Her in all things.
Hear Her in all sounds.
Know Her in all thoughts.
Feel Her in all feelings.
She is all there is.

She is the one in the three worlds.

Shiva and Shakti are one and the same.
That is the secret.

Om, shanti, shanti, shanti
(Om, peace, peace, peace)

* Shiva is the universal latent or masculine energy,
and Shakti is the universal active or feminine energy.

(Shiva-Shakti)

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Remembering that “I am”

Oh mind, sing the sound So Ham

Soham Japalehe Manawa
Soham, soham, soham.

I am that I am, that I am, that I am.

(Soham Mantra)
(click here for online Soham practice)
(click here for online Soham trataka/gazing practice)

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